US3570559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the spreading of component leads
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1968-11-27
•
Granted: 1971-03-16
•
Expires: 1988-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A lead spreading technique for electrical components such as transistors having three nominally parallel leads, utilizes a plurality of reciprocable pencillike spreading fingers shaped to fit between and spread adjacent leads. The electrical components are preoriented single file in the conventional manner and are each sequentially located in the operative position by one of the pencil fingers itself. This ''''locating'''' finger is mounted upon a three-position cylinder, one position of which injects the finger in an intercepting relationship with one of the component leads as the component file advances. Upon the locating of a component at the operative position, the spreading fingers are reciprocated as closely as possible to the base of the component to separate the leads. Upon full retraction of the locating finger a rubber membrane is employed as an escapement to hold the remaining transistors.
Inventors
- 👤 Burtis E Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:55
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/02; H05K13/023; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In a lead spreading process for electrical components of the type having at least two nominally parallel leads extending from one surface thereof, wherein at least one elongated finger is reciprocated between adjacent leads in a plane substantially parallel to said surface for forcing said leads apart, said components advancing with roughly similar orientation single file along a predetermined path, the improvement for locating said components sequentially at a lead separating position and for spreading the leads at that position, comprising the cyclic steps of: normally positioning a first elongated finger adjacent said path in a lead intercepting position to prevent the advancement of said components therebeyond, and to place the intercepted component in a desired orientation, thus precisely defining an operating position; reciprocating at least a second finger across the face of said component to spread said leads; and withdrawing said first finger from said lead intercepting relationship, thereby permitting the operated-upon component to advance beyond said operating position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a lead spreading process for electrical components of the type having at least two nominally parallel leads extending from one surface thereof, wherein at least one elongated finger is reciprocated between adjacent leads in a plane substantially parallel to said surface for forcing said leads apart, said components advancing with roughly similar orientation single file along a predetermined path, the improvement for locating said components sequentially at a lead separating position and for spreading the leads at that position, comprising the cyclic steps of: normally positioning a first elongated finger adjacent said path in a lead intercepting position to prevent the advancement of said components therebeyond, and to place the intercepted component in a desired orientation, thus precisely defining an operating position; reciprocating at least a second finger across the face of said component to spread said leads; and withdrawing said first finger from said lead intercepting relationship, thereby permitting the operated-upon component to advance beyond said operating position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of preventing further advancement of all of said components save the operated-upon component during the withdrawal of said finger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the leads extend from the body of said component in a polygonal array, having at least three vertices, and wherein the first and second fingers are disposed in separate planes and are reciprocated simultaneously at a predetermined angle with respect to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said component is a three-lead transistor having the leads arranged at the vertices of a right triangle; wherein the first and second fingers reciprocate at right angles to one another; anD wherein the first finger intercepts the lead located at the apex of said triangle opposite the hypotenuse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the positioning of said first finger in a lead intercepting position includes the step of rotating said component to orient it for the lead spreading step.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for spreading the leads of an electrical component having at least two nominally parallel leads extending from one surface thereof comprising: means for guiding said components single file along a predetermined advancing path with generally similar orientation; a plurality of fingers, at least one of which is shaped to fit between adjacent leads and spread them, disposed adjacent said path; means for normally locating one of said fingers in a component-lead-intercepting position along said path, thereby preventing the advancement of said components beyond this point; means for reciprocating said fingers across the face of said component, thereby spreading said leads; and means for withdrawing said intercept finger beyond said lead intercepting position, thereby permitting advancement of said components.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for spreading the leads of an electrical component having at least two nominally parallel leads extending from one surface thereof comprising: means for guiding said components single file along a predetermined advancing path with generally similar orientation; a plurality of fingers, at least one of which is shaped to fit between adjacent leads and spread them, disposed adjacent said path; means for normally locating one of said fingers in a component-lead-intercepting position along said path, thereby preventing the advancement of said components beyond this point; means for reciprocating said fingers across the face of said component, thereby spreading said leads; and means for withdrawing said intercept finger beyond said lead intercepting position, thereby permitting advancement of said components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said leads are arranged in a polygonal array having at least three vertices, and wherein said fingers are disposed in separate planes to permit their simultaneous reciprocation across the face of said component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 7, wherein said guide means for advancing the components with generally similar orientation is sufficiently larger than said components to permit said intercept finger to rotate said component to a more precise orientation for the spreading of said leads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for normally locating the intercept finger in a lead intercepting relationship comprises a three-position air cylinder having one stable lead intercepting position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 6, further comprising escapement means disposed along said path for restraining advancement of said components during withdrawal of said spreading fingers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 10, wherein said escapement means comprises an air operated bladder disposed along said path adjacent the next electrical component following the component being operated upon by said fingers; and means for pressurizing said bladder during retraction of said fingers and clamping said component against said guiding means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3028959A
Cited
US3106945A
Cited
US3071166A
Cited
US3144889A
Cited
US3122179A
Cited
US3404712A
Cited
US3333673A
Cited
US3321825A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |